Lijst met uitgaven 1849 - 1895

Curator: Here we have "List of Expenses," a page torn from Willem Koekkoek's sketchbook, created sometime between 1849 and 1895. It’s a mixed-media drawing employing ink and pastel on paper, now held in the Rijksmuseum collection. Editor: It's a mundane list, yet something about its ephemeral quality—the wispy pastel and faded ink—suggests fragility and the passing of time. Curator: Precisely. As a materialist, I find myself drawn to the paper itself, probably quite commonplace at the time. I am curious about its origin, if it's handmade or machine produced. That would reveal a lot about its accessibility. The materiality grounds the drawing. Editor: Absolutely. Each stroke reveals a story. We are drawn to this sketch as evidence, but beyond itemized expenses, “Montel” or “parkeren,” are the artist's impressions and memories. Those entries represent ordinary expenses, the cost of living made visible. The list becomes more than a ledger; it evolves into a cultural symbol, a record of what society and individual members valued in that moment in time. Curator: The texture created by layers of ink and pastel could imply the complex accumulation of social realities. I wonder about Koekkoek’s access to materials—were these expensive pigments, or more affordable, readily available materials? Understanding this illuminates social position and labor conditions connected with the production of both the materials and the artwork itself. Editor: And perhaps this mundane piece hints at broader issues, too. Maybe Koekkoek unconsciously chose pastel to illustrate their gentle spirit, their longing for the pastoral settings evident in other work...a striking commentary, I'd suggest, against the encroaching urbanization represented by these lists. Curator: In exploring the cost, labor and time put in creating this sketchbook, perhaps we realize it as not just paper and ink. Editor: A fleeting peek into Koekkoek's time and a fascinating mirror reflecting values and social memory of his age.